The bible... why take it seriously?

[robvalue]

Well that is a very good quote, and I find it brave of you to say

I think, at best, people will say "hmm that's interesting advice jesus, thanks" and then discount most of what he says as not practical. I highly doubt by ripping our your eye and giving all your money away that your life will be improved, or other people's, all things considered. I see no possible reason to see that it would. And sure, I would invite someone to prove me wrong, but no one ever would if they are of sound mind.

The idea of charity and looking after the poor is wonderful advice for sure, but that's not the same as constantly giving all your money away leaving nothing for yourself to survive on.

The problem is that jesus was giving advice based on a short term plan that the world would end soon. Clearly such advice is not good in a world that is not ending soon.

Back onto my OP, I guess the whole point is that religious people do not use the same level of scrutiny with the bible that they would do with any other book, or in fact anything else at all.

And how you could pick one holy book over another is beyond me! In fact, I believe the Quran at least begins by saying it is the word of god instead of going into a story right away. (I tried reading it online, and it's hard work!) Correct me if I'm wrong there. Of course, a book that wants to lay claim to be the word of god is going to say it is the word of god. So that shows nothing.

I never mean my words to be insulting to anyone, I don't hate religious people, I hate religion and I hate the hold is has over people's ability to reason clearly. In fact I think I'll put that in my signature

[Heavily edited here as usual as I reread my drivel]